Hidden Agendas and Sassy Senators

[WhiteMage]

First of all, did anyone else think this episode had a hidden agenda? An almost do-goodery outlook on illegal immigration; or am I the only one who saw that?

And second of all...did anyone else think it was maybe, I dunno, SLIGHTLY wrong that Martha didn't call the authorities? I know (going with the whole "do-gooder" theme) she didn't turn them in because they were good, exceptional people or whatever. But that's not the point. She's a woman in a position of power and prestige. She took an oath when she entered that office.

I know this thread will get an onslaught of "Well all politicians break their oaths!" but again, that's not the point. That doesn't make it okay, does it? Why should Superman's mommy hide illegal aliens just because Javier (who hardly seems Mexican at all) is "exceptional"...or whatever the word was she used to describe him.

Just thought I'd stir the pot. Please post your thoughts!

[Heilige]

Agree with you. They need to stay from hot political topics such as these so as not to offend anyone.

[jmf1977]

I also agree. It was too preachy and liberal. All TV shows need to stay away from political hot button issues or present the other side of the argument. Illegal immigration and Superman are not the same yet the writers tried to get viewers to believe that. I think the whole Superman is the ultimate illegal alien is just a political correct liberal new viewpoint.

[FallenStar]

The whole episode had an agenda. Not even a "hidden" agenda, but a "slap you in the face with it" agenda.

[jimmyolsenblues]

martha has gone from "I don't know if I should run for state senate" to acting like a politician 24/7. Cover your behind by reporting the illegals and getting out in front of scandal to dating billionaire lionel.
Whoo what a change Mionel can make in a person.

[WhiteMage]

Wow, I'm pleased to hear so many people agree with me!

I thought this thread might get swamped by liberal loud-mouths, but its nice to see other people who believe Smallville should stay away from politics. :)

[JB5150]

Tune in for the rest of the season when we get:
Lana and the pro-life pro-choice argument
The fortress coming back and telling Clark to get out of his war with the zoners (or stay in depending on your PoV)
A plug pulling fiasco on an inmate in level 33.1 and
A zoner pulling his powers of violence from video games and gamers turning them into mindless killing machines themselves...

Leave the politics to South Park....

[impulse110779]

did you not realize Clark is an alien?

[Luthorville]

So much for superman standing for truth, justice and the American way. It's apparently ok with him to break certain laws. Clark doesn't need to fly. He can see everything just fine from atop his high horse.

[Ballawjordan23]

I thought this episode was great. I mean they broke a law, to do something good, so what. Its a show, they right the script however they want. LoL! If you do not like it, do not watch is what i would say.

[bobsuncorp]

I was really hoping that they would end the show with Clark and Javier getting back to the Farm, both all dirty and cut up because of the fight with the FOTW to find the sherriff waiting for them ready to deport Javier and his Mother just as they re-united, with Martha having called them while Clark was away. Then maybe we would have had a slightly more realistic outcome, but no, all is going to be ok and guess what? It seems that Martha maybe able to get them permenant status! It just shows that if you really really really want something and your heart is pure wishes can come true. As if.

[STFanatic]

Originally posted by WhiteMage
First of all, did anyone else think this episode had a hidden agenda? An almost do-goodery outlook on illegal immigration; or am I the only one who saw that?

And second of all...did anyone else think it was maybe, I dunno, SLIGHTLY wrong that Martha didn't call the authorities? I know (going with the whole "do-gooder" theme) she didn't turn them in because they were good, exceptional people or whatever. But that's not the point. She's a woman in a position of power and prestige. She took an oath when she entered that office.

I know this thread will get an onslaught of "Well all politicians break their oaths!" but again, that's not the point. That doesn't make it okay, does it? Why should Superman's mommy hide illegal aliens just because Javier (who hardly seems Mexican at all) is "exceptional"...or whatever the word was she used to describe him.

Just thought I'd stir the pot. Please post your thoughts!


Since Politics is a no-no subject, I will just say.. Yup, and time to impeach Martha!
:p

[Atomic girl]

I think what this episode solidified here was that Jonathan was really the moral compass for the family. Without him, they are floundering a bit.

When Clark and Lana were caught in the house it was Jonathan who called Clark on it, not Martha. Clark was trying to justify his actions but he knew he was wrong, why else would he sneak around. Jonathan was going to make him answer to him, but Martha gave him an out.

[RyanStray]

[editing out: no politics please!]

[TampaVille]

Political topics are precisely what Superman is all about! When Superman was created, he wasn't fighting aliens and monsters every week. His fights were fistfights with thugs and gangsters. The topics he addressed were real world ones, that affected real world people. That's where Superman has the MOST to offer to us... a reflection of the real world, not an escape from it.

I think Smallville did a brave thing, trying to bring a controversial real world topic onto the show. And while most of the show did seem to say that exceptions can be made to the illegal alien laws, the show DID also present the other side. The deputy that inspected the Kent Farm spelled out very clearly the other side of this topic. That the show spent more time in the manner it did was a plot and character development matter, not necessarily one of trying to subvert unsuspecting audience members.

I vote MORE politics on SV. I didn't even think the mole man was necessary this episode, so strong was the topic they had chosen. I say, give us more episodes where Clark has to deal with some issues other than how to vanquish the newest super-baddie. After all, Superman is only rarely actually FIGHTING opponents. Much more often he's dealing with some sort of apparent moral contradiction.

[ginnyfan]

^I agree TampaVille I read a collection of the first four Superman comics and they were all about the little man against the corporate machine. So... This is very Superman.

However, was there a hidden agenda in this episode? The only time I took the issue seriously was when Martha Kent was on screen. The rest of the time I felt that the subject matter was just a label to bring substance to an empty episode.

Illegal immigrant/migrant worker flavored Ryan.

That's what this was.

Though I did enjoy the cheesy statement from Clark about the fact that he was an illegal alien. :)

[Radioflyer]

Originally posted by WhiteMage
First of all, did anyone else think this episode had a hidden agenda? An almost do-goodery outlook on illegal immigration; or am I the only one who saw that?

And second of all...did anyone else think it was maybe, I dunno, SLIGHTLY wrong that Martha didn't call the authorities? I know (going with the whole "do-gooder" theme) she didn't turn them in because they were good, exceptional people or whatever. But that's not the point. She's a woman in a position of power and prestige. She took an oath when she entered that office.

I know this thread will get an onslaught of "Well all politicians break their oaths!" but again, that's not the point. That doesn't make it okay, does it? Why should Superman's mommy hide illegal aliens just because Javier (who hardly seems Mexican at all) is "exceptional"...or whatever the word was she used to describe him.

Just thought I'd stir the pot. Please post your thoughts!


Ditto

http://americancomedynetwork.com/animation.html?bit_id=24620

[Kii]

I think some people just look way too much into a simple show.

Superman breaks the law all the time, he takes the law into his own hands and apprehends suspects. So, arguing that Clark didn't 'uphold the law' is a moot point.

[Radioflyer]

I don't read the comics much but I'm sure Superman wouldn't defy the law. Taking out fiends or nabbing criminals is one thing but diminishing national security and sovereignty by enabling illegal immigration, I don't think so. A current trend in the comics wouldn't excuse anything like that. If you tried to immagrate to mexico you would be in for a shock. (Washington, D.C.): The Congress has received lots of free advice lately from Mexican government officials and illegal aliens waving Mexico's flag in mass demonstrations coast-to-coast. Most of it takes the form of bitter complaints about our actual or prospective treatment of immigrants from that country who have gotten into this one illegally - or who aspire to do so.

If you think these critics are mad about U.S. immigration policy now, imagine how upset they would be if we adopted an approach far more radical than the bill they rail against which was adopted last year by the House of Representatives namely, the way Mexico treats illegal aliens. In fact under a constitution first adopted in 1917 and subsequently amended, Mexico deals harshly not only with illegal immigrants. It treats even legal immigrants, naturalized citizens and foreign investors in ways that would, by the standards of those who carp about U.S. immigration policy, have to be called "racist" and "xenophobic."

The Mexican constitution includes the following restrictions:

"Foreigners may not in any way participate in the political affairs of the country." This ban applies, among other things, to participation in demonstrations and the expression of opinions in public about domestic politics like those much in evidence in Los Angeles, New York and elsewhere in recent days.

Equal employment rights are denied to immigrants, even legal ones. Article 32: "Mexicans shall have priority over foreigners under equality of circumstances for all classes of concessions and for all employment, positions, or commissions of the Government in which the status of citizenship is not indispensable."

Jobs for which Mexican citizenship is considered "indispensable" include, pursuant to Article 32, bans on foreigners, immigrants, and even naturalized citizens of Mexico serving as military officers, Mexican-flagged ship and airline crew, and chiefs of seaports and airports.

Article 55 denies immigrants the right to become federal lawmakers. A Mexican congressman or senator must be "a Mexican citizen by birth." Article 91 further stipulates that immigrants may never aspire to become cabinet officers as they are required to be Mexican by birth. Article 95 says the same about Supreme Court justices.

In accordance with Article 130, immigrants - even legal ones - may not become members of the clergy, either.

Foreigners, to say nothing of illegal immigrants, are denied fundamental property rights. For example, Article 27 states, "Only Mexicans by birth or naturalization and Mexican companies have the right to acquire ownership of lands, waters, and their appurtenances, or to obtain concessions for the exploitation of mines or of waters."

Article 11 guarantees federal protection against "undesirable aliens resident in the country." What is more, private individuals are authorized to make citizen's arrests. Article 16 states, "In cases of flagrante delicto, any person may arrest the offender and his accomplices, turning them over without delay to the nearest authorities." In other words, Mexico grants its citizens the right to arrest illegal aliens and hand them over to police for prosecution. Imagine the Minutemen exercising such a right!


The Mexican constitution states that foreigners - not just illegal immigrants - may be expelled for any reason and without due process. According to Article 33, "the Federal Executive shall have the exclusive power to compel any foreigner whose remaining he may deem inexpedient to abandon the national territory immediately and without the necessity of previous legal action."


I think we maybe ( The U.S) should adopt some of Mexico's Immigration policies!

[WalterK]

The question of whether Superman should deal with controversial social issues is interesting. Of course, the writers will do what they want because it is their show. But IMHO, Superman is mostly an ideal. As such, his actions need to be heroic in a clear cut way. Superman usually does the right thing, so his actions have to be uniquivocally right in the eyes of the audience. That means he saves people's lives and fight monsters or obvious bad guys. It's not a question of whether the writers are "brave enough" to tackle social issues - social issues do not fit well with the Superman formula. To take an current example, some people thought that Clark's union with Lana was not very Supermanly, while others thought that being chaste should not be considered an ideal, any more than one's choice of ice cream flavor. Superman's actions also need to cause a warm fuzzy feeling, which is why it would not work to have Superman helping out the border patrol. In the episode, the limited Clark's actions to reuniting the mother and child. He did not try to hide them after the mother was found. So, mostly farm and fuzzy.

[whitegold]

There shouldn't be politics on Smallville

Why?

1) TV shows are generally lowest common denominator aimed - and when they start getting 'preachy' they certainly fufill this. Issues are often very complex; dumbed down TV presents a rather one dimensional and limited political input.

2) It amuses me when people say a tv show 'tackles' a political issue. It isn't tackling anything. All we get is someone with a political view presenting his side of his belief, in a crass one dimensional way. Yawn.

3) It seems rather insulting to the audience that people can lap up this dumbed down stuff and be 'informed' what their view should be on whatever the politicised issue is.

If a show wants to project issues, then they should avoid one dimensionalism, and preachiness. But given the intelligence of writing that wouldn't be feasible.

[Kii]

zzzZZZzzzZZZzz

[s_q]

i think thats how martha will leave all this politics crap behind. Because Clark will need to break the rules to save people, and she cannot be a senator and hide the biggest truth from the world.

That and ofcourse the Lionel issue. But martha needs to leave this politics crap behind. This is just so stupid.